Bangladesh Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia No More
Begum Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has died at the age of 80 following a prolonged illness. She breathed her last at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Dhakas Apollo Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment. Her party confirmed the news in a statement.
Zia, a three-time Prime Minister, suffered from multiple age-related ailments, including advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, and complications affecting her chest and heart.
She was the widow of former President Ziaur Rahman and an influential figure in Bangladeshs political landscape, known for her long-standing rivalry with current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Zia had been tried and jailed in corruption cases during Hasina's tenure, charges her party deemed politically motivated. She was later released from prison under strict conditions, including not leaving the country.